The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-09-15
Luxuries of the Rich.

Senator John Sherman and asver-
nor Foraker have been telling the
farmers and workingmen of Ohio that
nearly all the revenues from customs
have been paid on "luxuries c0nsum
ed by the rich." This assertion, even
IL approximately true. would not init
igate the injustice of the tariff. rs the
duties are 30 high upon many necessa-
ries of the poor that these are not inn
ported, while the rich can afford to
rate of duty. But let us look into this
matter. The latest official summary
statement of the Treasury presents a
table of values of imports of merchan.
disc by groups in the last twelve
months. OF the dutiable imports.
amounting in value to $42S, ,276. $40.
the value of the imports of /" articles
Of voluntary use, luxuries. etc." was
$79, 1873, ,654, or 10 per cent. only of the
total imports subject to duty. The re.
mainder of the duliable imports, or 81
per cent. of the whole, consisted of
articles of necessity in American fam.
lilies and the raw materials of Ameri
can labor. How do the assertions of
Senator Sherman and Governor Fora
ker tally with these official facts?
The summary statement OF the
Treasury shows that "articles in q
crude condition which enter into the
various processes of domestic labor"
and "articles wholly or partially man.
ufactured for use as materials in the
manufactures and mechanic arts, -
amounted to S1l5, 249, 1856 in value
more than q per cent. of the dutiable
imports in the last twelve months. In
the same period articles manufac-
fured, ready for consumption" were
imported to the value of $il4. 1888 .234,
or not quite 27 per cent. of the total
value of dutiable imports. Articles
of food (chiefiy sugar. and live AMI
mails constituted little more than %
Per cent, or $l14, 490. .067. of the value
Of the dutiable imports. The "luxu-
ries of the rich," which John Sher.
man and Governor Foraker have cred
ited with paying most of the revenues
from imports, form much the lowest
group in the list of imports subject to
duty: The assertions of these Ohio
champions of tariff robbery must have
been made either in profound igno-
rance or in reckless disregard of the
official facts.
1t Is seen by this Treasury statement
that under the boasted protective sys-
tenn more taxes are collected from Inn.
ported raw materials of American In
dustry than from imports of foreign
manufactures. American manufac
turers and mechanics have been com
PEELED in the last twelve months to
pay duties ranging from 25 to so per
cent. upon $l15. .OOO, 900 OF raw materi
Als. AS long as American industry
and skill shall be thus burdened com
petition with European rivals on equal
terms will be impossible either in
home or in foreign markets. But when
such facts as these are drawn from the
official records to show how heavy q
hand is laid upon the country's labor
John Sherman and Governor Foraker
daringly appeal to popular Ignorance
and credulity with the assertion that
the revenues from imports are mainly
levied upon articles of luxury consum
ed by the wealthy few, and that the
masses of the people are thus gener
ously relieved Of taxation.-(Philad
phia Record.